Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence
Authorized employee
Under OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard, an authorized employee is a person trained and authorized to apply energy control procedures, that is, who locks or tags out machines or equipment in order to service or maintain them.
- Machine safety
- USA
- Maintenance
In one sentence
An authorized employee is trained to apply lockout/tagout and does the servicing, a role defined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147.
Example
A maintenance technician replacing a conveyor belt is the authorized employee: she isolates the drive, applies her personal lock, releases stored energy and performs a tryout before starting work.
How it applies
- Machine safety: Only authorized employees apply and remove their own locks and tags. Each one working on the equipment is protected by their own lock, including in group lockout.
- USA: OSHA requires training for authorized employees in recognizing hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of energy and the means of isolation and control. Retraining is required when procedures or equipment change.
- Technical documentation: Machine-specific procedures are written for the authorized employee: energy sources, isolation points, stored energy release and tryout. They must match the machine as built.
- Evidence: Authorization lists and competency assessment records show who may perform lockout on which equipment.
Authorized employee vs. qualified person
Authorized is a role in the lockout/tagout program. A qualified person has demonstrated skills for a task, such as electrical work. Many tasks require both.